Maui Invitational - Highly Recommend

[Pewterschmidt]

I'm hoping that in '11 or '12, the Gophers get invited to the Maui Invitational. I believe the Gophers have only once attended, back in the early '90's.

I attended the event in '07 and it has to be the best preseason tourney out there. In a small, intimate gym, it's always packed and only minutes from some of the best resorts on Maui. It's just a great environment. There are 3 sponsor resorts so you mingle with fans from the other teams all week.

I highly, highly recommend you venture out to Maui if and when the Gophers get invited. With Tubby improving the stature of the program, I'm hopeful it'll happen shortly and I promise I'll be out there. The traditions surrounding the event itself are amazing. The Sunday (the night before the event), there's a huge outdoor banquet right on the water that's easy to attend where all of the teams are present. Guest speakers (Pete Newell was one of them the year I attended) abound and you feel apart of an awesome event.

Watching some of these other tourneys look downright depressing compared to Maui.

Not to mention that Maui is basically heaven on earth. Vacationing in Hawaii is expensive but if it's within your means, I give the Pewter guarantee you won't regret it.

 

[freshtrout]

And I was thinking that seeing the games this year in Anaheim would be great ... no comparison to Maui, that's for sure. Good take on Maui .. thanks.

 

[Gopherholefan]

I remember a tidbit from Sid last spring saying we were either going in 2011 or 2012... I just saw that the Goph's are in Puerto Rico next season with West Virginia and North Carolina.

 

[freshtrout]

Watching the Cal vs Syracuse game on ESPN 2, just makes me appreciated Bob Knight and his color commentary... No hype (like Dickie V or others on ESPN) just very solid info regarding what both coaches and players are trying to do .. and why they are trying to it. It's so refreshing.

 

[Pewterschmidt]

Bobby Knight is my favority analyst. It's no bull, all substance. This might be his calling. I'm serious. He's perfect. He hates fluff. I hate fluff. I watch games just because he's talking.

As for Maui...I have to expand more. It's such a great event. I'm anything but a big wig but in that small gym, I had Gerald Henderson Sr's knees in my back sitting behind me, Doug Collins was right in front of me. Michael Jordan a 30 ft put away, Jerry Tarkanian sitting next to Pete Newell a couple of yards away sitting on the sidelines, all the while half of the gym was packed with one set of fans, while the other side was the other. During the day at the team's resort, the players and coaches will mingle with the fans before and after the game. My wife had (dangerous, I know) had a one-on-one moment on the beach with Gerald Henderson Jr one morning while he was filming some sea turtles off the beach (I'm ashamed to say she had no idea who he was until she pointed him out) while the pool and beach were filled with fans from every team. It made for some great conversations. The best part...the 3 sponsper resorts are all within a couple of blocks down the beach from each other so it's like one big event. I know I'm gushing and name dropping but when I go if the Gophers attend, I want a strong Gopher contingent.